Ronson Varaflame Wedgwood Ulysses Table Lighter, 1968

This Ronson table lighter was made in 1968 in England by Ronson and Wedgwood. The Ronson Varaflame Wedgwood 'Ulysses' has a chrome plated standard Varaflame insert which is mounted in Wedgwood Blue Jasper base with overlaid design – heroic battle scene – in white ceramic. In the 1950s Ronson & Wedgwood used the same scene in its Ulysses wick lighter.

Wedgwood is a British pottery firm, founded on May 1, 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood (1730–95). The company still exists and is noted for its numerous innovations and high-quality wares that achieved renown throughout the world. Wedgwood's name is synonymous with the Jasper Ware body type.

The main themes on the company's jasper ware have all been taken from ancient mythologies: Roman, Greek or Egyptian or Italian Renaissance and Baroque The initial decision to have antique designs was probably that as Britain entered an age of great industrialization, the demand for luxurious goods subsequently exploded. Meanwhile, the archeological fever caught the imagination of many artists. Nothing could have been more suitable to satisfy this huge business demand than to produce replicas of artefacts. Wedgwoods pottery is  very collectible nowadays.

The lighter base is padded with light blue felt. Marked with a sticker on the bottom of the base:

RONSON (R)
Regd. trade mark
MADE IN ENGLAND 

Lighter insert marked:

RONSON
MADE IN W. GERMANY
PATENTED
RONSON (R)

Type: gas (butane) lighter

Scarcity: uncommon

Value for good–mint condition: $50.00–80.00 (approx €35.00–60.00)

Weight: 290 grams (0.64 pounds)

Dimensions:

• height: 6.3 cm (2.5")
• diameter: 8.8 cm (3.5")